S.B. No. 1896
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of health and human services by the
  Department of Family and Protective Services and the Health and
  Human Services Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 263, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 263.409 to read as follows:
         Sec. 263.409.  FINAL NOTIFICATION OF BENEFITS RELATED TO
  KINSHIP VERIFICATION. Before a court enters a final order naming a
  relative or another adult with a longstanding and significant
  relationship with a foster child as the permanent managing
  conservator for the child, the court shall verify that:
               (1)  the individual was offered the opportunity to
  become verified by a licensed child-placing agency to qualify for
  permanency care assistance benefits under Subchapter K, Chapter
  264, and the individual declined the verification process and the
  permanency care assistance benefits; and
               (2)  the child-placing agency conducting the
  verification for the individual's permanency care assistance
  benefits has been notified of the individual's decision to decline
  the permanency care assistance benefits.
         SECTION 2.  Section 264.107(g), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (g)  If the department or single source continuum contractor
  is unable to find an appropriate placement for a child, an employee
  of the department or contractor who has on file with the department
  or contractor, as applicable, a background and criminal history
  check may provide temporary emergency care for the child. The [An]
  employee may not provide emergency care under this subsection in
  the employee's residence. The department or contractor shall
  provide notice to the court for a child placed in temporary care
  under this subsection not later than the next business day after the
  date the child is placed in temporary care.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 264.1071 and 264.1073 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 264.1071.  OFFICE STAYS PROHIBITED. The department may
  not allow a child to stay overnight in a department office.
         Sec. 264.1073.  TREATMENT FOSTER CARE. The department and
  single source continuum contractors shall:
               (1)  lessen employment restrictions to allow single
  parents to participate in treatment foster care, when quality care
  is assured;
               (2)  expand the eligible age for treatment foster care
  to include children 10 years of age or older;
               (3)  prepare and plan for the subsequent placement not
  later than the 30th day after a child is placed in treatment foster
  care to assist in the transition to the least restrictive
  placement; and
               (4)  extend the length of time for a treatment foster
  care placement.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 264.117 to read as follows:
         Sec. 264.117.  MENTORS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN. (a)  The
  department and each single source continuum contractor in this
  state, in collaboration with local governmental entities and
  faith- and community-based organizations, shall examine the
  feasibility of designing a volunteer mentor program for children in
  congregate care settings.
         (b)  Not later than December 31, 2022, the department shall
  report its findings and recommendations for establishing a mentor
  program to the legislature.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 5.  (a) Section 264.1261, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), and (b-4) to read as
  follows:
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Section 264.0011, the Health and
  Human Services Commission, in collaboration with the department and
  each single source continuum contractor in this state, shall
  develop a plan to increase the placement capacity in each catchment
  area of the state with the goal of eliminating the need to place a
  child outside of the child's community. In developing the plan, the
  commission shall:
               (1)  evaluate whether contracting for additional
  capacity at residential treatment centers, facilities that provide
  mental inpatient or outpatient beds for crisis intervention and
  stabilization purposes only for children with severe behavioral
  health or mental health needs, and other potential temporary
  placement options provides the best methods for meeting capacity
  shortages; and
               (2)  make a recommendation to the department regarding
  contracting for additional capacity.
         (b-2)  A plan developed under Subsection (b-1) that includes
  the use of an inpatient or outpatient mental health facility must
  require the facility to discharge a child placed in the facility not
  later than 72 hours after the treating health care provider
  determines it is not medically necessary for the child to remain in
  the facility.
         (b-3)  The plan developed under Subsection (b-1) must
  include information and contingency plans to ensure adequate
  capacity in other facilities to meet placement needs when a
  facility is placed on probation.
         (b-4)  The department and each single source continuum
  contractor shall contract with facilities for reserve beds to
  ensure the department may place each child in a facility if capacity
  is otherwise unavailable.
         (b)  Sections 264.1261(a) and (b), Family Code, as added by
  Chapter 822 (H.B. 1549), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2017, are repealed.
         SECTION 6.  Section 264.152(4), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (4)  "Community-based care" means the provision of
  child welfare services in accordance with state and federal child
  welfare goals by a community-based nonprofit or a local
  governmental entity under a contract that includes direct case
  management to:
                     (A)  prevent entry into foster care;
                     (B)  reunify and preserve families;
                     (C)  ensure child safety, permanency, and
  well-being; and
                     (D)  reduce future referrals of children or
  parents to the department [foster care redesign required by Chapter
  598 (S.B. 218), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session,
  2011, as designed and implemented in accordance with the plan
  required by Section 264.153].
         SECTION 7.  Section 264.154, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  To enter into a contract with the commission or
  department to serve as a single source continuum contractor to
  provide services under this subchapter [foster care service
  delivery], an entity must be:
               (1)  a nonprofit entity that has:
                     (A)  an organizational mission focused on child
  welfare; and
                     (B)  a majority of the entity's board members
  residing in this state; or
               (2)  a governmental entity.
         (c)  The department shall request local stakeholders in a
  catchment area, including those listed in Section 264.155(a)(8), to
  provide any necessary information about the catchment area that
  will assist the department in:
               (1)  preparing the department's request for bids,
  proposals, or other applicable expressions of interest to provide
  community-based care in the catchment area; and
               (2)  selecting a single source continuum contractor to
  provide community-based care in the catchment area.
         SECTION 8.  Section 264.155, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 264.155.  REQUIRED CONTRACT PROVISIONS. (a)  A
  contract with a single source continuum contractor to provide
  community-based care services in a catchment area must include
  provisions that:
               (1)  establish a timeline for the implementation of
  community-based care in the catchment area, including a timeline
  for implementing:
                     (A)  case management services for children,
  families, and relative and kinship caregivers receiving services in
  the catchment area; and
                     (B)  family reunification support services to be
  provided after a child receiving services from the contractor is
  returned to the child's family;
               (2)  establish conditions for the single source
  continuum contractor's access to relevant department data and
  require the participation of the contractor in the data access and
  standards governance council created under Section 264.159;
               (3)  require the single source continuum contractor to
  create a single process for the training and use of alternative
  caregivers for all child-placing agencies in the catchment area to
  facilitate reciprocity of licenses for alternative caregivers
  between agencies, including respite and overnight care providers,
  as those terms are defined by department rule;
               (4)  require the single source continuum contractor to
  maintain a diverse network of service providers that offer a range
  of foster capacity options and that can accommodate children from
  diverse cultural backgrounds;
               (5)  allow the department to conduct a performance
  review of the contractor beginning 18 months after the contractor
  has begun providing case management and family reunification
  support services to all children and families in the catchment area
  and determine if the contractor has achieved any performance
  outcomes specified in the contract;
               (6)  following the review under Subdivision (5), allow
  the department to:
                     (A)  impose financial penalties on the contractor
  for failing to meet any specified performance outcomes; or
                     (B)  award financial incentives to the contractor
  for exceeding any specified performance outcomes;
               (7)  require the contractor to give preference for
  employment to employees of the department:
                     (A)  whose position at the department is impacted
  by the implementation of community-based care; and
                     (B)  who are considered by the department to be
  employees in good standing;
               (8)  require the contractor to provide preliminary and
  ongoing community engagement plans to ensure communication and
  collaboration with local stakeholders in the catchment area,
  including any of the following:
                     (A)  community faith-based entities;
                     (B)  the judiciary;
                     (C)  court-appointed special advocates;
                     (D)  child advocacy centers;
                     (E)  service providers;
                     (F)  foster families;
                     (G)  biological parents;
                     (H)  foster youth and former foster youth;
                     (I)  relative or kinship caregivers;
                     (J)  child welfare boards, if applicable;
                     (K)  attorneys ad litem;
                     (L)  attorneys that represent parents involved in
  suits filed by the department; and
                     (M)  any other stakeholders, as determined by the
  contractor; and
               (9)  require that the contractor comply with any
  applicable court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction
  in the case of a child for whom the contractor has assumed case
  management responsibilities or an order imposing a requirement on
  the department that relates to functions assumed by the contractor.
         (b)  A contract with a single source continuum contractor
  under this subchapter must be consistent with the requirements of
  applicable law and may only include terms authorized by the laws or
  rules of this state.
         (c)  In regions identified for implementing community-based
  care and in regions where community-based care has been
  implemented, a contractor may apply to the department for a waiver
  from any statutory and regulatory requirement to increase
  innovation and flexibility for achieving contractual performance
  outcomes.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 264.157(a), (b), and (c), Family Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Not later than the last day of the state fiscal biennium
  [December 31, 2019], the department shall:
               (1)  identify the [not more than eight] catchment areas
  in the state where the department will implement [that are best
  suited to implement] community-based care; and
               (2)  following the implementation of community-based
  care services in those catchment areas, retain an entity based in
  this state that is independent of the department to conduct an
  evaluation of [evaluate] the implementation process and the single
  source continuum contractor performance in each catchment area.
         (b)  Notwithstanding the process for the expansion of
  community-based care described in Subsection (a), [and in
  accordance with the community-based care implementation plan
  developed under Section 264.153, beginning September 1, 2017,] the
  department shall accept and evaluate unsolicited proposals [begin
  accepting applications] from entities based in this state to
  provide community-based care services in a geographic service
  [designated catchment] area where the department has not
  implemented community-based care. An entity that submits a proposal
  to provide community-based care services must ensure that it meets
  all criteria outlined by this subchapter and must demonstrate
  established connections to the area the entity proposes to
  serve. The Health and Human Services Commission in conjunction with
  the department shall adopt rules to ensure that proposals submitted
  under this subsection comply with state procurement laws and rules.
         (c)  In expanding community-based care, the department may
  change the geographic boundaries of catchment areas as necessary to
  align with specific communities or to enable satisfactory
  unsolicited proposals for community-based care services to be
  accepted and implemented.
         SECTION 10.  Section 264.158, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A single source continuum contractor may implement its
  own procedures to execute the department's statutory duties the
  contractor assumes and is not required to follow the department's
  procedures to execute the assumed department duties.
         SECTION 11.  Section 264.159, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 264.159.  DATA ACCESS AND STANDARDS GOVERNANCE COUNCIL.
  (a)  The department shall create a data access and standards
  governance council to develop protocols for the interoperable
  electronic transfer of data from single source continuum
  contractors to the department to allow the contractors to perform
  case management functions and additional contracted services by the
  department.
         (b)  The council shall develop protocols for the access,
  management, and security of case data that is electronically shared
  between [by] a single source continuum contractor and [with] the
  department.
         (c)  The council shall develop protocols for the access,
  management, and security of data shared with an independent entity
  retained to conduct the independent evaluations required under this
  subchapter. The protocols shall ensure the entity has full,
  unrestricted access to all relevant data necessary to perform an
  evaluation.
         (d)  The council consists of single source continuum
  contractors with active contracts and department employees who
  provide data, legal, information technology, and child protective
  services. The council shall meet at least quarterly during each
  calendar year.
         SECTION 12.  Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 264.171 and 264.172 to read as follows:
         Sec. 264.171.  JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON
  COMMUNITY-BASED CARE TRANSITION. (a) Notwithstanding Section
  264.0011, in this section:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Committee" means the Joint Legislative Oversight
  Committee on Community-Based Care Transition.
               (3)  "Department" means the Department of Family and
  Protective Services.
         (b)  The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on
  Community-Based Care Transition is composed of six voting members
  as follows:
               (1)  three members of the senate, appointed by the
  lieutenant governor; and
               (2)  three members of the house of representatives,
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
         (c)  The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
  representatives shall each appoint a member described by Subsection
  (b)(1) or (2), respectively, to serve as joint chairs of the
  committee.
         (d)  The committee shall meet at the call of the joint chairs
  and may consider public testimony.
         (e)  The committee may employ persons necessary to carry out
  this section through funds made available by the legislature.
         (f)  The committee shall monitor and report to the
  legislature on the following related to the implementation of
  community-based care:
               (1)  the funding of community-based care;
               (2)  the performance and outcomes of community-based
  care statewide and by region;
               (3)  statutory or regulatory barriers to the successful
  implementation of community-based care; and
               (4)  other challenges to the successful implementation
  of community-based care.
         (g)  The committee may request any relevant information from
  the commission, the department, or another relevant state agency,
  and the commission, department, or agency shall comply with the
  request, unless the provision of the information is prohibited by
  state or federal law.
         (h)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
  committee shall submit a written report of the committee's findings
  and recommendations to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the
  standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
  having primary jurisdiction over child welfare issues.
         (i)  The committee shall monitor the continued
  implementation of community-based care and hold public hearings to
  receive comments from the public on the implementation of
  community-based care.
         Sec. 264.172.  OFFICE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CARE TRANSITION.
  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Department" means the Department of Family and
  Protective Services.
               (2)  "Office" means the Office of Community-Based Care
  Transition created under this section.
         (b)  The Office of Community-Based Care Transition is a state
  agency independent of but administratively attached to the
  department.
         (c)  The office shall:
               (1)  assess catchment areas in this state where
  community-based care services may be implemented;
               (2)  develop a plan for implementing community-based
  care in each catchment area in this state, including the order in
  which community-based care will be implemented in each catchment
  area and a timeline for implementation;
               (3)  evaluate community-based care providers;
               (4)  contract, on behalf of the department, with
  community-based care providers to provide services in each
  catchment area in this state;
               (5)  measure contract performance of community-based
  care providers;
               (6)  provide contract oversight of community-based
  care providers;
               (7)  report outcomes of community-based care
  providers;
               (8)  identify the employees and other resources to be
  transferred to the community-based care provider to provide the
  necessary implementation, case management, operational, and
  administrative functions and outline the methodology for
  determining the employees and resources to be transferred;
               (9)  create a risk-sharing funding model that
  strategically and explicitly balances financial risk between this
  state and the community-based care provider and mitigates the
  financial effects of significant unforeseen changes in the
  community-based care provider's duties or the population of the
  region it serves; and
               (10)  require the annual review and adjustment of the
  funding based on updated cost and finance methodologies, including
  changes in policy, foster care rates, and regional service usage.
         (d)  The department shall provide any administrative support
  the office needs, and the department and the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall provide access to any information and
  legal counsel the office requires to implement community-based
  care.
         (e)  The governor shall appoint the director of the office to
  serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor. The
  director reports directly to the governor.
         (f)  The office shall report to the legislature at least once
  each calendar quarter regarding the implementation of
  community-based care in the state.
         (g)  A provision of this subchapter applicable to the
  department with respect to any duty assigned by this section to the
  office applies to the office in the same manner as the provision
  would apply to the department.
         (h)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
  department retains the powers and duties provided by this
  subchapter to the department.
         (i)  The office is abolished and this section expires on the
  date that community-based care is implemented in the last
  department region in this state.
         SECTION 13.  (a)  Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 533.00521 and 533.00522 to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 533.00521.  STAR HEALTH PROGRAM: HEALTH CARE FOR
  FOSTER CHILDREN.  (a)  The commission shall annually evaluate the
  use of benefits under the Medicaid program in the STAR Health
  program offered to children in foster care and provide
  recommendations to the Department of Family and Protective Services
  and each single source continuum contractor in this state to better
  coordinate the provision of health care and use of those benefits
  for children in foster care.
         (b)  In conducting the evaluation required under Subsection
  (a), the commission shall:
               (1)  collaborate with residential child-care providers
  regarding any unmet needs of children in foster care and the
  development of capacity for providing quality medical, behavioral
  health, and other services for children in foster care; and
               (2)  identify options to obtain federal matching funds
  under the Medical Assistance Program to pay for a safe home-like or
  community-based residential setting for a child in the
  conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
  Services: 
                     (A)  who is identified or diagnosed as having a
  serious behavioral or mental health condition that requires
  intensive treatment;
                     (B)  who is identified as a victim of serious
  abuse or serious neglect; 
                     (C)  for whom a traditional substitute care
  placement contracted for or purchased by the department is not
  available or would further denigrate the child's behavioral or
  mental health condition; or
                     (D)  for whom the department determines a safe
  home-like or community-based residential placement could stabilize
  the child's behavioral or mental health condition in order to
  return the child to a traditional substitute care placement.
         (c)  The commission shall report its findings to the standing
  committees of the senate and house of representatives having
  jurisdiction over the Department of Family and Protective Services.
         Sec. 533.00522.  STAR HEALTH PROGRAM: MENTAL HEALTH
  PROVIDERS. A contract between a Medicaid managed care organization
  and the commission for the organization to provide health care
  services to recipients under the STAR Health program must require
  the organization to ensure the organization maintains a network of
  mental and behavioral health providers, including child
  psychiatrists and other appropriate providers, in all Department of
  Family and Protective Services regions in this state, regardless of
  whether community-based care has been implemented in any region.
         (b)  The changes in law made by this section apply only to a
  contract for the provision of health care services under the STAR
  Health program between the Health and Human Services Commission and
  a Medicaid managed care organization under Chapter 533, Government
  Code, that is entered into, renewed, or extended on or after the
  effective date of this section.
         (c)  If before implementing Section 533.00522, Government
  Code, as added by this section, the Health and Human Services
  Commission determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
  agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the
  health and human services agency affected by the provision shall
  request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that
  provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 14.  Section 2155.089(c), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  an enrollment contract described by 1 T.A.C.
  Section 391.183 as that section existed on September 1, 2015;
               (2)  a contract of the Employees Retirement System of
  Texas except for a contract with a nongovernmental entity for
  claims administration of a group health benefit plan under Subtitle
  H, Title 8, Insurance Code; [or]
               (3)  a contract entered into by:
                     (A)  the comptroller under Section 2155.061; or
                     (B)  the Department of Information Resources
  under Section 2157.068; or
               (4)  a child-specific contract entered into by the
  Department of Family and Protective Services for a child without
  placement.
         SECTION 15.  Section 2155.144(a), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies only to the Health and Human
  Services Commission, [and to] each health and human services
  agency, and the Department of Family and Protective Services. For
  the purposes of this section, the Department of Family and
  Protective Services is considered a health and human services
  agency.
         SECTION 16.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 40.05291 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.05291.  ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a)  The
  department shall develop a plan to eliminate the department's use
  of paper case files and fully transition to an electronic case
  management system.
         (b)  The department shall implement a fully electronic case
  management system not later than September 1, 2023.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2025.
         SECTION 17.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 40.0583 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.0583.  STATE AUDITOR REVIEW OF CONTRACTS. The state
  auditor shall annually review the department's performance-based
  contracts to determine whether the department is properly enforcing
  contract provisions with providers and to provide recommendations
  for improving department oversight and execution of contracts.
         SECTION 18.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 40.081 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.081.  IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL LAW. (a) In
  furtherance of department duties under Section 40.002(d), the
  department shall to the greatest extent possible develop capacity
  for placement settings that are eligible for federal financial
  participation under 42 U.S.C. Section 672, including settings:
               (1)  specializing in providing prenatal, postpartum,
  or parenting support for youth;
               (2)  providing high-quality residential care and
  supportive services to children and youth who this state has
  reasonable cause to believe are, or who are at risk of being, sex
  trafficking victims in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section
  671(a)(9)(C);
               (3)  providing supervised independent living for young
  adults;
               (4)  offering residential family-based substance abuse
  treatment as described by 42 U.S.C. Section 672(j); and
               (5)  serving as a qualified residential treatment
  program.
         (b)  In developing capacity for settings described by
  Subsection (a)(2), the department shall:
               (1)  promote the use of nationally recognized tools
  such as the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool
  (CSE-IT) and any other indicated treatment models or best practices
  for the treatment and prevention of sex trafficking victimization;
  and
               (2)  use providers that:
                     (A)  use a trauma-informed care model;
                     (B)  have defined programming to address the
  specific needs of trafficking survivors and youth at risk of
  trafficking;
                     (C)  have leadership and direct-care staff who
  have completed training regarding the specific needs of trafficking
  survivors and youth at risk of trafficking; 
                     (D)  have established policies and procedures to
  minimize risk to a child who is a victim of trafficking placed with
  the provider and other children placed with the provider, including
  risks related to running away from the placement or becoming a
  victim of trafficking; and
                     (E)  provide case management services or contract
  with an entity in the geographic area of the provider to provide
  case management services to trafficking victims or potential
  victims.
         SECTION 19.  Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 42.026 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.026.  ACCESS TO DATABASE. (a)  The commission shall
  make the child-care licensing division's searchable database
  accessible to commission and department investigators.
         (b)  The department shall make the department's searchable
  database accessible to commission and department investigators.
         SECTION 20.  Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 42.0433 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.0433.  SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND
  POSTVENTION PLAN. (a) In this section, "postvention" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 38.351, Education Code.
         (b)  The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt a model
  suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policy for use by
  a residential child-care facility. The model policy must:
               (1)  be based on current and best evidence-based
  practices;
               (2)  require all employees of the facility to receive
  annual suicide prevention training that includes understanding of
  safety planning and screening for risk;
               (3)  promote suicide prevention training for
  non-employee entities, as appropriate; and
               (4)  include procedures to support children who return
  to the facility following hospitalization for a mental health
  condition.
         (c)  Each residential child-care facility shall adopt a
  suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policy. A
  residential child-care facility may adopt:
               (1)  the model policy adopted by the executive
  commissioner under Subsection (b); or
               (2)  another suicide prevention, intervention, and
  postvention policy approved by the executive commissioner.
         (d)  The suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
  policy adopted under Subsection (c) may be part of a broader mental
  health crisis plan if the components of the plan include suicide
  prevention, intervention, and postvention.
         (e)  The commission shall provide to a residential
  child-care facility any technical assistance necessary to adopt or
  implement a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
  policy.
         SECTION 21.  Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 42.0538 and 42.0583 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 42.0538.  PROVISIONAL LICENSE FOR KINSHIP PROVIDER.
  (a)  The executive commissioner by rule shall allow a child-placing
  agency to issue a provisional license for a kinship provider, as
  defined by Section 264.851, Family Code, who meets the basic safety
  requirements provided by commission rule. A kinship provider
  issued a provisional license under this section shall complete all
  licensing requirements within the time provided by rule.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall ensure that the
  implementation of this section does not reduce the amount of
  federal money available to this state.
         Sec. 42.0583.  IDENTIFYING AT-RISK PROVIDERS. (a)  The
  department shall use data analytics collected regarding
  residential child-care providers, including general residential
  operations providing treatment services to young adults with
  emotional disorders, to develop an early warning system to identify
  at-risk providers most in need of technical support and to promote
  corrective actions and minimize standard violations.
         (b)  The system developed under Subsection (a) must
  distinguish between different levels of risk using a multi-point
  severity scale. The department shall make information regarding the
  severity scale available to:
               (1)  the standing committees of the senate and the
  house of representatives with oversight of child-care facilities;
  and
               (2)  the public through the department's Internet
  website.
         SECTION 22.  Subchapter D, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 42.080 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.080.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROHIBITED. The
  commission may not issue a citation to or take any other
  disciplinary action against a general residential operation or a
  child-placing agency for failing to employ a licensed child-care
  administrator or licensed child-placing administrator, as
  appropriate, if the operation or agency has:
               (1)  been without an administrator for less than 60
  days; and
               (2)  made substantial efforts to hire a qualified
  administrator.
         SECTION 23.  Section 42.252(c), Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The operational plan must include:
               (1)  a community engagement plan to develop and, if
  necessary, improve relations between the general residential
  operation and the community in which the operation is located that
  includes:
                     (A)  a summary of any discussions the operation
  had with:
                           (i)  local law enforcement; and
                           (ii)  local health, therapeutic, and
  recreational resources available to support children at the
  operation; and
                     (B)  a summary of the opportunities the children
  at the operation will have for social interaction in the community;
               (2)  an educational plan describing the applicant's
  plan to provide for the educational needs of the children at the
  general residential operation that:
                     (A)  identifies whether the proposed operation
  will provide for the public or private education of school-age
  children at the operation;
                     (B)  identifies whether the proposed operation
  will provide for the education of school-age children through a
  local school, off-site charter school, or on-site charter school;
                     (C)  includes any discussions, plans, and
  agreements with the local school district, private school, or local
  charter school that will be providing education to the school-age
  children at the operation; and
                     (D)  if the children are to be enrolled in a public
  school, includes either:
                           (i)  a statement from the local independent
  school district on the impact of the proposed child-care services
  on the local school district; or
                           (ii)  an explanation of the reasons the
  operation was unable to obtain a statement described by
  Subparagraph (i) and a discussion of other alternative educational
  services that the operation could offer;
               (3)  a trauma-informed plan to address unauthorized
  absences of children from the general residential operation; [and]
               (4)  a suicide prevention, intervention, and
  postvention plan that meets the requirements of Section 42.0433;
  and
               (5)  the qualifications, background, and history,
  including any compliance history, of each individual who is
  proposed to be involved in:
                     (A)  the management of the operation; and
                     (B)  the educational leadership of the operation
  if the operation will be using an on-site charter school.
         SECTION 24.  Subchapter H, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 42.2541, 42.256, 42.257, 42.258,
  42.259, and 42.260 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.2541.  IMPROVING EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.
  (a)  The department shall develop a strategic plan for improving the
  provision of educational services to children placed in a general
  residential operation.
         (b)  The department shall report to the Texas Education
  Agency the educational outcomes for children placed in a general
  residential operation.
         (c)  The department and the Texas Education Agency shall
  annually evaluate the educational outcomes for children placed in a
  general residential operation and adopt strategies and policies to
  improve the outcomes and standards.
         Sec. 42.256.  TREATMENT MODEL.  (a)  Each general
  residential operation providing treatment services shall, on
  issuance of an initial or renewal license under this chapter,
  submit to the commission information on the operation's treatment
  model.  A general residential operation that contracts with the
  department to provide residential care for children in foster care
  shall submit information on the operation's treatment model to the
  department on execution and renewal of a contract.
         (b)  The operation shall annually assess the overall
  effectiveness of the model adopted under this section.
         (c)  The treatment model must address all aspects related to
  children's care, including children's therapeutic needs.  The model
  shall include:
               (1)  the manner in which treatment goals will be
  individualized and identified for each child;
               (2)  the method the operation will use to measure the
  effectiveness of each treatment goal for the child;
               (3)  the actions the operation will take if the
  treatment goals are not met; and
               (4)  the method the operation will use to monitor and
  evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment model.
         (d)  A general residential operation may change a treatment
  model adopted under this section after notifying the commission of
  the change and submitting the new treatment model to the
  commission.
         (e)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement
  this section.
         (f)  The general residential operation shall adopt policies
  and procedures to implement the treatment model.
         Sec. 42.257.  EVALUATION OF PLACEMENTS. (a)  A general
  residential operation that considers accepting a child's placement
  with the operation shall evaluate the proposed placement on the
  following criteria:
               (1)  whether the child meets the operation's admission
  criteria;
               (2)  whether the child would benefit from the treatment
  model implemented at the operation; and
               (3)  whether the operation has the staff and resources
  to meet the child's needs considering the other children at the
  operation and the other children's needs.
         (b)  A general residential operation shall ensure that the
  evaluation under Subsection (a) does not delay the timely placement
  of a child.
         Sec. 42.258.  LIMIT ON PLACEMENTS FOR NEW FACILITY. If the
  department or a single source continuum contractor contracts with a
  general residential operation providing treatment services to
  place children with the operation before the operation is licensed,
  the contract must limit the number of children that may be placed at
  the operation each month and limit the number of children with a
  service level of specialized, intense, or intense plus until the
  operation exhibits sustained compliance with the licensing
  standards.
         Sec. 42.259.  TRANSITION PLANS. A general residential
  operation shall develop a transition plan for each child who has
  been placed at the operation for longer than six months.
         Sec. 42.260.  TELEHEALTH PILOT PROGRAM. The commission in
  coordination with the department and single source continuum
  contractors shall establish guidelines in the STAR Health program
  to improve the use of telehealth services to provide and enhance
  mental health and behavioral health care for children placed in the
  managing conservatorship of the state.
         SECTION 25.  Section 43.0081, Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.0081.  PROVISIONAL LICENSE. (a) The commission
  [department] may issue a provisional child-care administrator's
  license to:
               (1)  an applicant licensed in another state who applies
  for a license in this state if the applicant[. An applicant for a
  provisional license under this section must]:
                     (A)  is [(1) be] licensed in good standing as a
  child-care administrator for at least two years in another state,
  the District of Columbia, a foreign country, or a territory of the
  United States that has licensing requirements that are
  substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter;
                     (B)  has [(2) have] passed a national or other
  examination recognized by the commission [department] that
  demonstrates competence in the field of child-care administration;
  and
                     (C)  is [(3) be] sponsored by a person licensed by
  the commission [department] under this chapter with whom the
  provisional license holder may practice under this section; and
               (2)  an applicant who:
                     (A)  otherwise qualifies for a license but does
  not meet the experience requirement in Section 43.004(a)(4); and
                     (B)  complies with any additional requirement
  established by rule under Subsection (e).
         (b)  The commission [department] may waive the requirement
  of Subsection (a)(1)(C) [(a)(3)] for an applicant if the commission
  [department] determines that compliance with that paragraph
  [subsection] constitutes a hardship to the applicant.
         (c)  A provisional license under Subsection (a)(1) is valid
  until the date the commission [department] approves or denies the
  provisional license holder's application for a license. The
  commission [department] shall issue a license under this chapter to
  the provisional license holder described by Subsection (a)(1) if:
               (1)  the provisional license holder passes the
  examination required by Section 43.004;
               (2)  the commission [department] verifies that the
  provisional license holder has the academic and experience
  requirements for a license under this chapter; and
               (3)  the provisional license holder satisfies any other
  license requirements under this chapter.
         (d)  For a provisional license holder described by
  Subsection (a)(1), the commission shall [The department must]
  complete the processing of a provisional license holder's
  application for a license not later than the 180th day after the
  date the provisional license is issued.  The commission
  [department] may extend the 180-day limit if the results of the
  license holder's examination have not been received by the
  commission [department].
         (e)  The executive commissioner by rule may establish
  additional requirements for the issuance of a provisional
  child-care administrator's license under Subsection (a)(2)(A) as
  the executive commissioner determines appropriate.
         SECTION 26.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Section 264.156(c), Family Code;
               (2)  Section 264.169, Family Code; and
               (3)  Section 40.0581(f), Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 27.  (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
  in collaboration with the Department of Family and Protective
  Services, shall review the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
  Services' Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model to determine
  whether implementing the model could benefit children in this
  state, including children enrolled in the STAR Health Medicaid
  managed care program.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall report its findings to the governor and
  legislature.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 28.  Not later than July 1, 2022, the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  shall adopt the model suicide prevention, intervention, and
  postvention policy required by Section 42.0433, Human Resources
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 29.  Not later than December 1, 2022, the Department
  of Family and Protective Services shall provide the legislature
  with options for conducting:
               (1)  independent administrative reviews of department
  investigations of licensed residential child-care facilities; and
               (2)  independent appeals of determinations from those
  investigations.
         SECTION 30.  (a)  The Department of Family and Protective
  Services shall:
               (1)  study extending permanency care assistance
  benefits to individuals who are not relatives of a foster child and
  who do not have a longstanding and significant relationship with
  the foster child before the child enters foster care; and
               (2)  assess the potential impact and favorable
  permanency outcomes for children who might otherwise remain in
  foster care for long periods or have managing conservatorship of
  the child transferred without any benefits to the caregiver.
         (b)  Not later than December 31, 2022, the Department of
  Family and Protective Services shall submit a report to the
  legislature on the results of the study and assessment conducted
  under this section and recommendations for further action based on
  the study and assessment.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 31.  Not later than January 1, 2025, the Department
  of Family and Protective Services shall:
               (1)  transition the family-based safety services
  program to evidence-based programs under the Family First
  Prevention Services Act (Title VII, Div. E, Pub. L. No. 115-123);
               (2)  develop an implementation plan for the transition
  of services; and
               (3)  develop community referrals to existing
  prevention and early intervention programs.
         SECTION 32.  The executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall adopt minimum standards related to
  continuum-of-care operations, cottage home operations, and
  specialized child-care homes as provided by Section 42.042, Human
  Resources Code, as amended by Chapter 317 (H.B. 7), Acts of the 85th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as soon as practicable after
  the effective date of this Act but not later than January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 33.  The Health and Human Services Commission and
  the Department of Family and Protective Services shall jointly
  evaluate the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L.
  116-260), to determine methods for maximizing this state's receipt
  of federal funds to provide foster youth transition planning to
  adulthood and additional services for foster youth and young adults
  in extended foster care.
         SECTION 34.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act but not later than October 15, 2021, the governor
  shall appoint the director of the Office of Community-Based Care
  Transition as required by Section 264.172, Family Code, as added by
  this Act.
         (b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall
  transfer all money, contracts, leases, property, and obligations
  related to the powers and duties of the Office of Community-Based
  Care Transition to that office.
         SECTION 35.  The Office of Community-Based Care Transition,
  the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Health
  and Human Services Commission are required to implement this Act
  only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that
  purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money
  specifically for that purpose, the Office of Community-Based Care
  Transition, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and
  the Health and Human Services Commission may, but are not required
  to, implement this Act using other appropriations available for the
  purpose.
         SECTION 36.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1896 passed the Senate on
  April 27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 28, 2021, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1896 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 146,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor